FLORENCE, Italy — A group of journalists and members of the perfume industry gathered at Restaurant Etichetta in the grand St. Regis Florence last Friday night for a Scent Dinner hosted by Chandler Burr, fragrance expert and the curator of olfactory art at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York. “This is a way of looking at perfume differently,” he explained to the guests.
Now what is a Scent Dinner? Burr created the concept as an interactive gastronomic experience comprised of two journeys — one excites the olfactory senses, while the other stimulates the taste buds. He passes out blotters that were dipped in an essence of a gourmand perfumery raw material and guests sniff the mystery ingredient before taking a guess at what it is. The process is repeated until an entire fragrance is unveiled by Burr, who then educates his audience about the scent. Then diners are served a course comprised of the same components developed by a chef — that night it was Michele Griglio, Restaurant Etichetta’s executive chef — and Burr.
At Friday’s event, Burr paid tribute to the legendary perfumer (or nose in industry speak) of Hermès, Jean-Claude Ellena, who was also the subject of a talk by Burr at Pitti Fragranze the next day. Guests smelled something citrusy on the first blotter and shouted out their guesses. It was orange. Lemon and lime followed. The fresh citrus scent was Concentrée d’Orange Verte, the 2004 reprise of Hermès’s first fragrance, Eau d’Orange Verte. “It reminds you of the original and transcends it,” said Burr. Then the first course arrived: Norwegian scallops marinated in lemon and Campari with orange caramel. Six courses were served and noses and tastebuds were overwhelmed until the finale: chamomile, gentian flowers, and absinthe – the notes of Eau de Gentiane Blanche – accompanied by an aperitif of absinthe.
Curious about this interactive olfactory fine dining experience? Burr will have a dinner on Thursday at Hotel Danieli in Venice, and on November 12 in New York for the opening of his MAD exhibition, “The Art of Scent 1889–2011.” Or, you can book Burr for a Scent Dinner of your very own.
For more information, visit chandlerburr.com.
Click on the slide show to see images from the recent Scent Dinner hosted by Chandler Burr.